Tea — US Import Duty from India

India → USA corridor · MFN tariff rates · Updated for 2026 HTS

Indian tea — particularly Darjeeling and Assam — commands premium pricing in the US market. Most tea enters the US at zero or very low duty, but FDA food facility registration and Prior Notice filing are mandatory for every commercial shipment.

Common HS codes for Tea

These are the most common 6-digit or 8-digit codes for this category. The exact code for your product may differ — use the free HS code lookup tool to classify your specific item.

US import compliance checklist

🔴 Required items must be in place before CBP will release the shipment. This list is guidance — always verify with your customs broker.

Calculating your full landed cost

The duty rate is only one part of your total cost to land goods in a US warehouse. A complete landed cost also includes:

• Freight — ocean or air freight from India to the US port of entry
• Insurance — typically 0.5%–1% of cargo value
• Customs broker fee — USD 75–250 per entry for a standard shipment
• ISF filing — Importer Security Filing, USD 25–35 per ocean shipment
• Destination charges — THC, delivery order fee, drayage

The duty rate shown above applies to the customs value (CIF value — cost + insurance + freight to the US port). Misunderstanding the duty base is one of the most common import cost errors.